Robert Toombs

Date of Birth: July 2, 1810

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: December 15, 1885

Biography

Robert Augustus Toombs was a prominent American politician and lawyer who played a significant role in the political landscape of the 19th century. Born in Wilkes County, Georgia, Toombs was a staunch advocate of states’ rights and served as a U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator, and the first Secretary of State of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. He was known for his fiery oratory and unwavering support for the Southern cause. After the war, Toombs remained a vocal critic of Reconstruction policies and never sought a pardon from the federal government. He spent his later years practicing law and managing his plantations in Georgia.

5 Interesting Facts about Robert Toombs

1. Robert Toombs was one of the wealthiest men in the South before the Civil War, owning several plantations and hundreds of slaves.

2. He was a close friend and political ally of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, though the two had a falling out during the war.

3. Toombs famously refused to seek a pardon after the Civil War, stating he had done nothing wrong.

4. He played a key role in drafting the Confederate Constitution.

5. Toombs was an accomplished lawyer and continued to practice law successfully after the Civil War, despite his political and financial losses.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Robert Toombs

1. “We want no negro equality, no negro citizenship; we want no mongrel race to degrade our own.”

2. “The framers of the Constitution intended to secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity.”

3. “I am a secessionist, and I glory in the name.”

4. “Our battle cry is, ‘Liberty and Equality, under the laws of the Constitution.’”

5. “If I were President of the United States, I would have all the rights of the States respected.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his wealth, Robert Toombs’ net worth was estimated to be equivalent to several million dollars in today’s currency, primarily derived from his extensive landholdings and slave labor.

Children

Robert Toombs had several children with his wife, Julia Ann DuBose Toombs. They had three daughters: Sarah, Louisa, and Mary, and two sons, Alfred and Gabriel. However, only his daughter, Sarah, survived into adulthood.